India’s roads are proving more deadly than its wars and militancy, with road accidents claiming a staggering 1.5 lakh lives annually, according to Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari. This crisis, responsible for a 3% loss to the country’s GDP, underscores the urgent need for comprehensive road safety measures. Gadkari emphasizes poor road engineering as a major contributor to accidents, stating that drivers are often unfairly blamed. To address this, the minister advocates for safety audits on all highways, improved lane discipline, and the development of standardized ambulance services equipped with advanced rescue tools. The government is also implementing stricter safety standards for public transport, requiring buses to meet international regulations from 2025 onward. These initiatives, coupled with promoting academic involvement in road safety audits, aim to significantly reduce the number of fatalities and improve road safety in India.